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Genetic and Landscape Characterization of Ancient Crops: The Olive Tree, a Case Study in Northern Italy

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Exploring and Optimizing Agricultural Landscapes

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Abstract

A large number of ancient olive plants with different genetic, agronomic and morphological characteristics are present in the Emilia Romagna region. In this study 431 trees, present in eight provinces, were located and their phytometric traits were recorded; all of them were also submitted to molecular analysis with SSR markers and compared with cultivars traditionally present in Central Italy and Emilia Romagna. The comparison of the local germplasm with known cultivars led to the identification of most accessions in study. Several accessions, about 33% of the total local individuals under study, did not show genetic identity with known cultivars and were of unknown origin, these genotypes therefore represent a precious reserve of biodiversity. Thanks to the synergy between the potentiality of local olive cultivars and the pedoclimatic conditions typical of a cold growing area, Northern Italy regions produce oils characterized by high quality standards; for example in Emilia Romagna region there are several registered trademarks and two PDOs (Protected Denomination of Origin), Brisighella and Colline di Romagna. In the last 30 years the Institute of BioEconomy IBE-CNR (ex IBIMET-CNR) and the University of Parma have carried out a selection project through genotyping programs: thirty autochthonous cultivars were selected and distributed following the genetic and sanitary plant certification process, according to a European voluntary program. The choice to protect autochthonous cultivars of Emilia Romagna, which according to literature mentioned in the text have been cultivated over the last two millennia in the region, and their reintroduction with new orchards in hilly areas would allow to valorize the final product and to implement the relationship between olive oil and landscape.

This chapter is partially based on three articles by the author which were previously published by other publishers:

– Andrea Fabbri, The olive in Northern Italy. A Mediterranean tale, Pages XX, DOI XX. Reprinted with the kind permission of Rivista di Storia dell’Agricolura.

– Annalisa Rotondi, T. Ganino, D. Beghè, N. Di Virgilio, L. Morrone, A. Fabbri & L. Neri (2018) Genetic and landscape characterization of ancient autochthonous olive trees in northern Italy, Plant Biosystems—An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 152:5, 1067–1074, https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2017.1415993. Reprinted with the kind permission of Taylor and Francis.

– Annalisa Rotondi, Chiara Lapucci, Lucia Morrone, Luisa Neri, Autochthonous cultivars of Emilia Romagna region and their clones: Comparison of the chemical and sensory properties of olive oils, Food Chemistry, Volume 224, 2017, Pages 78–85, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.12.050. Reprinted with the kind permission of Elsevier.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of BioEconomy, Italian National Research Council (IBE-CNR), Via Gobetti, 101 - 40129, Bologna, Italy

    Annalisa Rotondi, Massimiliano Magli & Lucia Morrone

  2. Department of Food and Drug Science, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Andrea Fabbri & Tommaso Ganino

  3. Department of Economics and Management, University of Parma, Via Kennedy, 6, 43123, Parma, Italy

    Deborah Beghè

Authors
  1. Annalisa Rotondi
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  2. Andrea Fabbri
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  3. Tommaso Ganino
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  4. Deborah Beghè
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  5. Massimiliano Magli
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  6. Lucia Morrone
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Correspondence to Annalisa Rotondi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Brandenburg, Germany

    Lothar Mueller

  2. Pryanishnikov - Institute for Agrochemistry, Moscow, Russia

    Viktor G. Sychev

  3. Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

    Nikolai M. Dronin

  4. Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Brandenburg, Germany

    Frank Eulenstein

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Rotondi, A., Fabbri, A., Ganino, T., Beghè, D., Magli, M., Morrone, L. (2021). Genetic and Landscape Characterization of Ancient Crops: The Olive Tree, a Case Study in Northern Italy. In: Mueller, L., Sychev, V.G., Dronin, N.M., Eulenstein, F. (eds) Exploring and Optimizing Agricultural Landscapes. Innovations in Landscape Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67448-9_22

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